Dems struggling to help low-wage contractors harmed by shutdown

Unlike the hundreds of thousands of affected federal employees who often receive back pay after a shutdown ends, low-wage contractors are not afforded compensation once the government reopens.

Contracted maintenance workers, cleaners, security guards and cafeteria staff at government buildings are among the hardest hit by the shutdown.

In the House, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) introduced a bill that would provide back pay for any “retail, food, custodial, or security services” contractors put on leave due to a shutdown. But so far Democratic leaders have not included it in their legislation aimed at fully reopening the government.

“Unlike many other contractors, those who employ low-wage service workers have little latitude to help make up for lost wages,” Norton said. “We must act to ensure that low-wage, federally contracted service workers are not put at a unique disadvantage by the Trump shutdown.”

2. Almost all contractors are W2 employees thru staffing agencies and can

Apply for unemployment. I watch caterpillar families survived for strikes on $150/week from union strike fund for a year.. thrust shutdown is survivable as we can not give in to to a tyrant...no reason for handwringing.